Sean Strickland’s lackluster performance in the Octagon at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia left much to be desired. Despite his adamant belief that he deserved a rematch against Dricus du Plessis after their previous encounter, Strickland failed to make any meaningful adjustments in the rematch and ultimately lost in a clear-cut title defense by du Plessis.
His head coach, Eric Nicksick of Xtreme Couture, expressed his disappointment with Strickland’s uninspired performance, noting that he seemed to be “sleepwalking” throughout the fight. Nicksick had high expectations for the rematch, especially after the preparation they had done, but was ultimately let down by the outcome.
While Strickland’s usual game plan involves a strong jab and teep kick offense, his performance against du Plessis was lackluster and underwhelming. Despite dealing with a staph infection leading up to the fight, Nicksick believes this does not excuse Strickland’s poor effort on fight night.
Criticism from other coaches and MMA figures has also been directed at Strickland, with some questioning his motivation and commitment to the sport. Nicksick acknowledges these critiques and emphasizes the need for Strickland to evaluate his goals and aspirations in MMA.
During the fight itself, Nicksick noted that he felt Strickland was struggling and not fully engaged in the bout. Despite his efforts to motivate Strickland to make a comeback, the former champion ultimately lost decisively to du Plessis.
In the end, Nicksick remains disappointed in Strickland’s performance and hopes that he will reevaluate his approach to the sport moving forward. The lackluster showing at UFC 312 has raised concerns about Strickland’s future in MMA and his commitment to reaching the top of the sport.
Hey, man, let’s switch it up for the rematch. We need to surprise Dricus with some new moves – like a same side head kick, some knees up the middle, anything that he hasn’t seen in the last nine rounds. We can’t afford to give away any rounds, especially after the close fight we had last time. Giving away round one was a wake-up call for me. We need to mix things up and not rely on a one-hit comeback with Sean.
During the rematch, Nicksick felt that Strickland didn’t stick to the game plan of disrupting du Plessis’ combinations with his own offense.
The loss is still fresh, and there’s a lot to talk about at Xtreme Couture. Nicksick is not giving up on Sean, but he’s worried about his mindset moving forward.
After a serious conversation, Nicksick will have a better understanding of what lies ahead.
“I need to sit down with Sean and see where I can help him,” Nicksick mentioned.
“As a coach, you sometimes get blamed for things you didn’t do or praised for things you didn’t do much. In situations like this, where a fighter’s motivations may change – if he’s now fighting for money rather than to be the best or a world champion – then we need to have a serious talk as coach and fighter.
“I have a lot of love for Sean. He’s a fantastic teammate and person. But if his focus is on money rather than being the best in the world, then it’s not what I’m here for. I want to strive for excellence, compete at the highest level, and win world titles. That’s where my heart is set.”